Jets Promoted to Premier League

_{Team Jets 1 Squad Back Row (left to right): Samantha Salzone, Leah Griffin, Jacy Brown, Jodie Blampied, Emily Le Gros, Molly Carre, Florence Allo.
Front Row (left to right): Rebecca Forrest, Nicole Goddard, Rosie Tonner (Captain), Antonia Chaytor, Grace Thomson, Madison Fitzgerald-Wilkins}

After a successful season for Team Jets 1, it all came down to the Playoffs to see if the team could secure promotion into Premier League 3, for the first time in 6 years.

The Reds were off to a strong start in Worcester Arena in their first game against Hertford Hornets, setting their intentions as a unit in the first half as the defence led by Becca Forrest seemed impenetrable, whereas the attack end led by captain Rosie Tonner finished everything off in a cool and collected fashion. Despite a near perfect start, Jets were in a score line battle with the score changing multiple times throughout. It was the second half where the Jets started to grind Hornets down, with the injection of Leah Griffin really opening up the attack end and enabling Jets to stay up for the first time in the game. The 4^th quarter saw the classiness of the group shine as they stuck to task and remained a focus, which they took on in game 2 YMCA Magic.

The Magic were rostered with Leeds Rhinos pathway players but even this didn’t seem to be a match for the Jets. The exceptional defence of Molly Carre and Jodie Blampied turned over some critical ball to keep the Jets in the game, putting the pressure back onto the young YMCA Magic side. Again, the 2^nd half was where were Jets really came into their own, showing outstanding patience and accuracy under the post. This, combined with a suffocating defence not allowing the Magic to settle, finally enabled some daylight between the two sides in what was a physical battle. The Jets finished day 1 2/2 and a chance of promotion on day 2.

Day 2 started with the most physical game of the 4 against Billericay, where Grace Thomson and Leah Griffin played inspirationally against an extremely physical defensive outfit to see the girls win by yet another 10 goal margin.

The stage was set for game 4 against Riverside – champions of the North East region. Both teams attacked the game from the beginning, with Jets struggling to deal with Riverside’s GS whose stature was impressive and tricky to defend. However, Becca Forrest and Molly Carre got to work quickly figuring out how to win ball in the back as we started to see balls go off the back line and side line. Jets went into half time 4 down but belief stood strong as we went into the second half with the introduction of Toni Chaytor into WA and Nicole Goddard from bench into C.

The new rotational circle was a headache for the Riverside defence, as Jets started to find some flow in the attack end whilst defensively, we continued to pile on the pressure. Still down going into the 4^th quarter, the girls found a new lease of life under pressure and pushed on to take the lead with 6 minutes to go with Rosie Tonner and Grace Thomson’s accuracy lifting to another level.

With the opposition sensing the waves of attack and defence and no let up from the Jets, a 4 goal lead stretched in their favour and time was not on the side of the opposition as the clock counted down and the girls finally felt the first sniff of premiership victory. As the buzzer went, pure elation, relief and joy raced through the team along with the realisation that they had finally done it – Premiership promotion finally secured!

With thanks to our Team Jets sponsors:

Ora Ventures Limited

Mourant

Voisins

Jersey Sport Travel Fund